Illuminated Cup Holders.

[coxcj]

matt_a, do you have any pictures of the LEDs in the daylight to show how you put them in, and did you use any connectors, etc?

[matt_a]

matt_a, do you have any pictures of the LEDs in the daylight to show how you put them in, and did you use any connectors, etc?

I don't really have any pics of that, but I could take some. I didn't use any connectors. The wires are just kinda pushed in to the back of the plug to make contact then I taped them in place. Where the LED wires are connected to each other, I just spliced them together and taped them. When I drilled the holes, I made sure to use a drill bit that was just big enough to push the LEDs through the hole so I didn't have to use any mounting clips or grommets. Like I said, I'll try to take some pics and post them. BTW, I mailed your LEDs out to you this morning.

[coxcj]

The mounting clips would be what I'm concerned about. I'm trying to figure out the best way to get it to look, and was thinking that a mounting bracket for the bulb would make it look more polished, like it belongs there.

Has anyone else out there worked with these brackets? Are they worth it?

[Martin Roy]

From where the LEDs are, you don't need a bracket or anything. They wont' be visible unless you bend down under the console. As for within the console, some basic tape or glue will work out perfectly !

[matt_a]

The mounting clips would be what I'm concerned about. I'm trying to figure out the best way to get it to look, and was thinking that a mounting bracket for the bulb would make it look more polished, like it belongs there.

There are two reasons why I didn't use them:

1. You can't see them. The LEDs are up underneath that panel. Unless you are laying on the floorboards, you won't really see them.

2. If you use a clip, it's going to almost force you to install the LEDs pointing straight out at a 90 degree angle from the panel. If you do that, because the panel is slanted they wont be pointed down at your cupholders. Instead they will be shinning more toward your shifter.

I don't know if I explained #2 very well. Did that make sense?

[coxcj]

it makes sense. I was just thinking that if the clip was used, then all it would take to get it to point as the cup holder is to put the hole lower on the panel.

It also happens to be one of my happy little quirks that I like things to look like they belong, even if nobody else is going to look at it.

[matt_a]

LOL....I understand completely. I'm like that too. I wanted mine to shine straight down. If they are at an angle, your wash of light will be different. That's not a bad thing...you might like it better. I will say this, even though you really can't see them, I think mine still look like they belong. I drilled the hole just big enough to push the LED bulb through. It has a very finished look....but you can't see it.

[shabelev]

Hey clipsed, i have a tiida sedan, and the cup holders in that car are illuminated from factory and also the center console is, it has a bright amber led located on the console where the bluetooh mic is (for the center console), and for the cup holders the small panel bellow the a/c control as a soft amber light... so if you could find that part of the panel you could even make this mod a lot easier...

if you want to i can post some pictures of how are the panels, and how it looks on the dark when illuminated

[Clipsed]

that would be awesome!

[coxcj]

if you want to i can post some pictures of how are the panels, and how it looks on the dark when illuminated

I agree with Clipsed. Thanks.

[jfanaselle]

Yeah... come on shabelev... lets see some pics! = ) Before I got my V, I had a Chevrolet HHR and it had a small white LED up on the ceiling near the front of the headliner that would shine down onto the instruments and console storage areas. At first, I had a hard time getting used to seeing the little light every time I would look in my rear view mirror (it wouldn't shine in your eyes or anything, but you could tell it was illuminated and it was catch your attention). But I really came to like it. The light it cast was very dim but it was enough to see what you were doing - kind of made the interior look like an airplane cockpit. I was wanting to mount something like that in my V but I was still tossing around the idea and looking for a product that would work without blinding me.

[shabelev]

i'll be posting pictures as soon as I get my camera back because my father is using it :P

[coxcj]

BTW, I mailed your LEDs out to you this morning.

I got the LED's Monday in the mail and was able to install them tonight. Wow!! I can't believe how two little LED's make such a difference. It only took about half an hour, and most of that was me just trying to figure out what I was doing. The orange isn't quite as "orangey" as the picture you posted, but it seems to fit by matching the same color as the instrument needles.

I still think that an amber color would be nice instead of the orange, but it's still a lot better than nothing.

I'd take a picture (for anyone that cares), but it's really the same picture that was posted earlier.

Thanks matt_a!!!!!

[Clipsed]

these are the types of LEDs that I use.









More amber than the LEDs you guys used. Just one of these would probably be enough to light up more than three of those! lolz.

[Clipsed]

lets compare . . .

[matt_a]

Hi Clipsed. Yeah, your's do look like a better color match, but like I said (and coxcj said too) the color in my photo looks way more orange than they do in person. As far as brightness goes, you photographed your's looking directly in to the LED. If I did the same, you'd be surprised at how bright mine are too. I've never seen those square LEDs like you have. How do you drill for those?

[matt_a]

I got the LED's Monday in the mail and was able to install them tonight. Wow!! I can't believe how two little LED's make such a difference. It only took about half an hour, and most of that was me just trying to figure out what I was doing. The orange isn't quite as "orangey" as the picture you posted, but it seems to fit by matching the same color as the instrument needles.

I still think that an amber color would be nice instead of the orange, but it's still a lot better than nothing.

I'd take a picture (for anyone that cares), but it's really the same picture that was posted earlier.

Thanks matt_a!!!!!

You're welcome! I'm glad it worked out for you.

[coxcj]

Hi Clipsed. Yeah, your's do look like a better color match, but like I said (and coxcj said too) the color in my photo looks way more orange than they do in person. As far as brightness goes, you photographed your's looking directly in to the LED. If I did the same, you'd be surprised at how bright mine are too. I've never seen those square LEDs like you have. How do you drill for those?

along the same lines, how would you wire the LED for the same purpose?

[Martin Roy]

Drill holes: You can drill a hole the size of the small round part with a drill bit the correct size, but the light would be shining down or as much. Another possibility is to drill a hole with a diameter the size of one side of the square, then slightly cut it in order to get the square shape. That would allow you to position the LED perfectly flat over the cupholders.

Wiring it: From what I see on Clipsed pictures, these LEDs have 4 pins. Since two are on one side and two on the others, I guess you can use one or two from the same side as a + and the other side is -. I probably don't have to use all the pins. In fact, these pins comme in useful if you wire a few of the in series. Clisped might be helpful for this one.

[Clipsed]

Hi Clipsed. Yeah, your's do look like a better color match, but like I said (and coxcj said too) the color in my photo looks way more orange than they do in person. As far as brightness goes, you photographed your's looking directly in to the LED. If I did the same, you'd be surprised at how bright mine are too. I've never seen those square LEDs like you have. How do you drill for those?

I may have took the pic looking into the LED, but I took it with a very short exposure, so that it is not as intense as it really is. They are VERY bright. As for drilling holes, these are usually SMD type LEDs for circuit boards. They were designed for that purpose, but come in handy for other purposes. If you wanted, you could drill a small hole that way only the light is emitted, and does not show the whole LED.

[Clipsed]

along the same lines, how would you wire the LED for the same purpose?

There are 2 + legs, and 2 - legs. Most people only use 2 legs, one + and one -, and use the other two connected dead for heat dispersion, as these LEDs are very bright and intense, they generate quite a bit of heat.

[daffyack]

when you poped out the console that you put LED on, what did you use to pop it out? I tried with flat screw, but didnt work, so what should I use to pop it out?

[jangelj]

I posted this in the other thread about lit cupholders, but I'll post it here, too, just in case:

I want to add a couple leds for my cupholders, and maybe a couple white ones hooked to the dome light that turn on when the door opens.anyway, I was looking at superbrightleds.com and have a question.

How many mcd's do I want. For an organge cupholder light, I have no idea the difference between 1500 or 18000 (they don't offer that range in orange, but I have idea what is what).

Also, do the leds in their component section have resistors? i don't think so. If not, do I need to just get something from their "bulbs" section?

Not to be a pain, but if someone more knowledgeable can post a link to a superbright page with a decent product, I should be good to go.

also, Is there an issue just drilling a hole the same size as the bulb and then pushing the led into it? If these put out any heat won't they melt the plastic?

John

[mdamatas]

Hi, this might help you get some ideas on how to do the installation. These pics are the original cupholders light that came with my Tiida. I just found out how to remove the parts, now I want to put a white led, unfortunately, the original led is part of another piece, so it is kind of difficult to replace it (at least for me)... Also, I don't think I can find a replacement for the yellow plastic (but in white or neutral).

Here are the pics:

[versizzle]

Anyone know what happened to this write up? I tried to follow the link and it's not there anymore. Can anyone help because I really want to do this mod. Thanks in advance.

[09SLOwner]

Anyone know what happened to this write up? I tried to follow the link and it's not there anymore. Can anyone help because I really want to do this mod. Thanks in advance.

Bump for another newbie.

[little_car_girl]

Bump for yet another newbie. What happened to the write up?

[superskunk]

Bob did this to the Versaspeed Versa... it wasnt too hard... I was wondering what ever happend to you... we went to a meet today... email me... hopefully you can come out to the next one...

[eeshazor]

Found the 5mm LED's you were talking about...but what wiring do you use with these and how???

Using these was the only thing I could think of? Pushing the back of the lights and "threading" some wire?